Like A Child: Forgiving Like a Child

What if the secret to one of the hardest things we are called to do as followers of Christ was hidden in the way a child plays at the park? This message takes us into the heart of forgiveness by drawing on one of the most relatable human experiences we know, watching children argue, separate, and then somehow end up playing together again as if nothing happened. At the center of this exploration is a pivotal exchange in Matthew between Peter and Jesus, where Peter asks how many times we are required to forgive a fellow believer who wrongs us. The answer Jesus gives is not a higher number to count toward. It is an invitation to stop counting altogether. We are challenged to see that the childlike faith Jesus calls us into is not just about innocence or wonder. It is about a radical, uncalculating willingness to restore relationship over preserving a grievance. The spiritual lesson cuts deep because most of us have been carrying a ledger we were never meant to hold.